Mountain Empire Community College vs Advanced Technology Institute: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Advanced Technology Institute comes closer — median earnings $46,342 against a $65,432 total, vs $32,622 at Mountain Empire Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Mountain Empire Community College | Advanced Technology Institute |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $8,852 | $16,358 |
| Total net cost | $35,408 | $65,432 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $32,622 | $46,342 |
| Median debt | — | $14,873 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$350,168 | -$105,792 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Mountain Empire Community College or Advanced Technology Institute?
Mountain Empire Community College, at $8,852 a year after aid versus $16,358 — a gap of $7,506 a year, or $30,024 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Mountain Empire Community College or Advanced Technology Institute graduates earn more?
Advanced Technology Institute graduates report a median $46,342 ten years after entry, $13,720 more than the $32,622 at Mountain Empire Community College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which graduates more of its students?
79% of students finish at Advanced Technology Institute, against 48% at Mountain Empire Community College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.